Surviving the Side Hustle

Discover how Cindy Van Eeckout transitioned from corporate leadership in Belgium to building multiple thriving businesses in the South of France. In this episode, she shares lessons on overcoming burnout, the importance of mindset during pivots, and redefining success to prioritize joy and well-being.

Perfect for entrepreneurs balancing side hustles with life’s demands, this conversation offers actionable insights to realign your goals with your inner fulfillment.

• Cindy’s journey from corporate Belgium to entrepreneurship in France
• Recognizing misalignment and the decision to pivot
• The significance of listening to your feelings for groundedness
• Strategies to slow down, reconnect, and cultivate self-awareness
• Four key lessons for startup success: heart-led decisions, action, support, and learning
• How mindset determines resilience during change
• Understanding sustainable success: feeling as good as it looks
• The four joy blockers: mental overload, emotional suppression, physical depletion, spiritual dissonance
• Women’s unique challenges with balance and self-care
• Future projects: podcast and book about creating a life that feels as good as it looks

00:00 - Introduction & Cindy’s inspiring story of reinvention
02:19 - From Belgium to south of France: chasing a dream
04:29 - Recognizing misalignment and the courage to pivot
05:52 - The importance of joy in life and business
07:01 - Staying grounded and present through nature and mindfulness
09:00 - Lessons learned when launching multiple businesses
10:13 - Four lessons for entrepreneurial success
11:32 - Surrounding yourself with support and like-minded peers
14:24 - Pivoting during the pandemic: a growth mindset approach
16:39 - Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth
17:26 - Managing emotions with clarity, self-care, and mindfulness
22:49 - Defining sustainable success: feeling as good as it looks
24:36 - The joy blockers and how to overcome them
28:49 - Supporting women in finding joy and balance
30:35 - Upcoming podcast and book projects
32:24 - The power of conversations for growth
33:39 - How to connect with Cindy and her offerings
36:19 - Final advice for side hustlers seeking joy

• Alegria Coaching - Website

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website

This episode is packed with concrete strategies to prevent burnout, enhance self-awareness, and build sustainable success aligned with joy. Whether you're at the start of your side hustle or navigating scale, Cindy’s insights will inspire you to realign with your true self and cultivate a fulfilling life.

In this episode, host Rob Tracz explores how entrepreneurs can build sustainable businesses without quitting their day jobs. Featuring insights from Michael LeBeau, a high school teacher and electronics recycling entrepreneur, the discussion challenges common myths about entrepreneurship and offers practical strategies for side hustlers.

• How a full-time job can be an asset, not an obstacle, in building a side business
• The importance of leveraging stability and structure from your day job
• The power of awareness and education in creating new business opportunities
• Why not all entrepreneurship needs to look grand—focus on solving manageable problems
• The mindset shift from performing as an entrepreneur to simply solving problems
• The concept of building slowly and safely to sustain long-term success
• How identifying overlooked problems can create unique business niches
• Practical ways to start and grow a side hustle without immediate full-time commitment

00:00 - Introduction: Building sustainable success on your own terms
00:33 - The Prime Performance Process explained
01:22 - Invitation to book a free strategy session
02:13 - Reframing the side hustle: What if your job is the advantage?
02:39 - Michael Lebeau’s story: Building a company as a teacher
03:08 - Why Michael doesn’t identify as an entrepreneur
04:05 - The value of structure and stability from a day job
05:04 - The power of doing the next thing, step-by-step
06:31 - Leveraging constraints and structure for growth
07:19 - Challenging the narrative: Your job can be your advantage
08:36 - Awareness as a key business asset
09:36 - The importance of educating about hidden problems
10:34 - The opportunity gap: Educate, guide, and build trust
11:27 - Success without a leap: Building in the margins of life
12:24 - How to connect with Michael and his services
13:20 - The mindset: Not needing to be an entrepreneur, just a problem solver
14:10 - Final encouragement: Start small, solve problems, love the work
14:50 - Closing remarks: Share, review, and connect

• EverTech MA
• Support email: [email protected]
• Contact phone: 617-302-6306

In this episode, Rob Tracz chats with Michael LeBeau, a high school computer science teacher and founder of EverTech MA, who is making waves in the electronics recycling industry. They explore balancing a full-time teaching job with launching a side hustle focused on sustainability and data security, offering insights into starting, growing, and maintaining a purpose-driven business.

Main Topics:

• The importance of secure electronics disposal and common misconceptions (0:00 - 2:57)
• How Michael transitioned from a tech background into electronics recycling (3:24 - 8:37)
• The role of support systems and managing imposter syndrome as a side hustle founder (8:37 - 9:43)
• Data destruction processes and regulatory compliance (11:40 - 13:31)
• The impact of AI and evolving tech on e-waste (15:52 - 16:37)
• Tips for juggling multiple roles, avoiding burnout, and maintaining motivation (17:01 - 21:27)
• Growth strategies, hiring, and scaling a sustainability-focused business (22:06 - 25:30)
• Connecting residential and corporate recycling efforts for greater impact (25:30 - 25:52)
• Practical advice for others balancing side projects with full-time jobs (29:23 - 29:56)

Timestamps:

00:00 - The risks and myths of improperly disposing electronics

02:57 - Introduction to Michael LeBeau and his side hustle

03:24 - How teaching supports Michael’s entrepreneurial efforts

04:06 - The journey from tech background to electronics recycling

06:47 - Why secure data destruction is critical and how it's done

08:37 - The impact of technology trends on e-waste

09:43 - Overcoming imposter syndrome and managing work-life balance

11:40 - Compliance standards like NIST and HIPAA in data destruction

13:31 - Cost-effective security solutions for businesses

15:52 - Effect of AI on electronics turnover and disposal

17:01 - Juggling roles and maintaining motivation

18:25 - Balancing work and personal life with strategic breaks

22:06 - Scaling through hiring and expanding operations

25:30 - Moving from residential to large-scale corporate recycling

29:23 - The key to surviving a side hustle: passion and conviction

Resources & Links:

• EverTech MA

Connect with Michael LeBeau:

• LinkedIn

Whether you’re considering a side project or looking to make an impact in sustainability, Michael’s story illustrates the importance of passion, support, and strategic growth. Don’t miss these actionable insights on balancing your ambitions while contributing to environmental responsibility.

Connect with Michael LeBeau · EverTech MA (electronics recycling & IT asset disposal): https://evertechma.com

In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob Tracz dives into a transformative perspective on entrepreneurship with Glenn Bostock, founder and CEO of Snapcab. Glenn challenges traditional business models, emphasizing kindness, authenticity, usefulness, and seeing the business as a living organism. Discover how to shift from hustle culture to a more sustainable, value-focused approach.

• The limitations of conventional hustle and top-down leadership in business growth
• Building a business on values: be kind, be authentic, be useful
• Starting in the neighborhood: the importance of unglamorous work as a foundation
• Transitioning from technician to leader for scalable success
• The power of surfacing and solving problems: systems that reward transparency
• Treating your business like a body: creating a self-healing, ecosystem-like organization
• Practical steps for entrepreneurs to build resilient, purpose-driven companies

00:00 - Introduction and core question: Is the traditional business operating system holding you back?
02:19 - Glenn's unusual entrepreneurial journey from cabinet maker to CEO of a $30M company
04:55 - The three core values: be kind, be authentic, be useful, and their impact on business culture
06:36 - The importance of starting in the neighborhood: doing unsexy work to grow into your dream business
07:55 - Glenn’s example: building from refinishing furniture to elevator interiors, growth through humility
08:46 - The value of unglamorous work and embracing the early, imperfect steps
10:00 - The transformation from technician to leader as a key to scalability
11:41 - Hiring and building a team around your weaknesses, not just your strengths
14:02 - The concept of “gold in problems”: building systems to surface issues openly
14:53 - Reward employees for reporting mistakes, and view problems as growth opportunities
16:36 - Building a business like a body, with a nervous system for rapid feedback and self-healing
17:41 - The importance of sensing disconnection and misalignment early
18:53 - Creating a self-healing, ecosystem-like business model that outlives the founder
20:05 - Practical advice: obsess over usefulness, value, and building systems that support growth
20:52 - Glenn's upcoming book, A Human Business, and how to learn more
21:17 - Encouragement for entrepreneurs to focus on what lights them up and add value persistently

• A Human Business by Glenn Bostock (Book release June 16th)
• Glenn Bostock Consulting Website

In this episode, Glenn Bostock, founder and CEO of SnapCap, shares his journey from a cabinet maker to leading a multi-million dollar company. He discusses the importance of cultivating a human-centric culture, embracing failure, and building trust within organizations to achieve sustainable growth.

• Glenn’s transition from woodworking to elevator interiors and eventually to building SnapCap
• The significance of company values: be kind, be authentic, and be useful
• How fostering a caring environment reduces fear and boosts innovation
• The role of mentorship and embracing failure as a growth tool
• Creating a culture of transparency through mistake reward systems
• Comparing business growth to muscle development and the importance of problem-solving
• Applying Japanese manufacturing principles, like the Toyota system, for operational excellence
• Building trust and community within a business to improve performance and scalability
• The motivations behind Glenn’s upcoming book, “A Human Business”
• Practical tips for entrepreneurs starting out, focusing on passions and market needs

00:00 - Introduction to leadership driven by passion and caring environments

02:44 - Glenn’s career journey from cabinet making to elevator interiors

03:40 - Culture creation based on kindness, authenticity, and usefulness

04:13 - Challenges and lessons learned in business growth

07:04 - Starting a business with limited resources and learning mechanics of finance

09:22 - Overcoming technician mindset and building confidence in entrepreneurship

11:12 - The transformation from technician to community builder

12:26 - The purpose of a business: creating value and usefulness

13:16 - Lowering fear and fostering a safe learning environment

14:04 - Hiring for culture fit and passion over skills

16:14 - Creating collaboration through community-minded initiatives

17:42 - Using the human body as a metaphor for organizational health

18:52 - Hiring and leadership lessons during rapid growth

19:09 - Learning to identify the right roles for growth

22:13 - Building trust through honesty and value delivery

23:18 - Reward systems for mistakes and continuous improvement

26:29 - Creating a company culture rooted in love and shared purpose

30:02 - Applying Japanese manufacturing principles for operational excellence

33:10 - Glenn’s motivation to share his “Human Business” philosophy with the world

37:16 - Tips for entrepreneurs: start with what excites you and add value

• Glenn Bostock’s Website – Get a free chapter of "A Human Business"
• A Human Business Book (coming June 16th, published by Forbes Books)

• LinkedIn

This episode explores how external validation, high achievement, and evolving success definitions shape our mental and emotional well-being. Meggie Rombach from Switzerland shares her journey through burnout, high performance, and her revolutionary approach to living authentically—guided by mindfulness, courage, and rewriting personal rules.

• Secrets behind burnout rooted in external validation, not workload
• How high performers are often driven by a need to be seen as enough
• Meggie’s "mindful rebellion" and coaching framework the three C’s (Clarity, Courage, Confidence)
• The power of redefining success as life changes and priorities shift
• The surprising link between courage and excitement—how physical sensations can guide growth
• The importance of sitting in the messy middle during transitions, not rushing through valleys
• Practical session on mindfulness as a tool for leadership and clarity
• How to recognize and rewrite the rules that actually govern your life

00:00 - What rules are you actually playing by?
00:29 - The truth about burnout and inherited goals
00:57 - Meggie Rombach’s background and burnout story
01:27 - The "mindful rebellion" and her three C’s & F’s
02:23 - Why burnout often stems from external validation
02:52 - The danger of outsourcing your worth
03:18 - How validation fuels high achievement and people pleasing
04:12 - Recognizing patterns of over-delivering and burnout
04:41 - External validation vs. internal validation—breaking the cycle
05:09 - The real work: building self-worth from within
06:04 - The rise to the challenge framework and needing less achievement
07:07 - The trap of seeking external approval through success
08:05 - Growing on valleys, not peaks—personal stories
09:01 - The significance of valleys and growth through hardship
10:01 - Moving through transitions and the importance of sitting in the messy middle
10:29 - William Bridges’ "Transitions" and the neutral zone
11:00 - The power of being uncomfortable in transition for real change
12:00 - The reframe: Courage and excitement share the same physical signals
12:30 - Building courage through lifestyle prototyping
13:00 - The signals of Thresholds—when growth opportunities appear
13:59 - Building courage as a skill, not a trait
14:29 - The nervous system's role in performance and decision-making
15:00 - Teaching your body to interpret fear & excitement differently
16:28 - How changing priorities reshape your version of success
17:28 - The importance of consciously choosing your goals
17:57 - Recalibrating your rules for authentic success
18:27 - The danger of sprinting in the wrong direction and the need to slow down
19:14 - Recognizing and rewriting external scripts and societal expectations
19:43 - Playing by your own rules for lasting fulfillment
20:12 - Resources for deepening mindfulness and coaching opportunities

• Play It By Your Rules Podcast
• Maggie Rombach’s Website

• LinkedIn

Discover how high achievers can redefine success, break free from burnout, and embrace a mindful rebellion to thrive personally and professionally. Join us as Meggi Rombach shares insights on leadership, resilience, and transforming old narratives into innovative pathways.

• Meggi's journey from corporate burnout to coaching and her concept of mindful rebellion
• The influence of high-level leadership experience on her coaching philosophy
• How high achievers often struggle with people-pleasing and external validation
• The importance of self-recognition and internal validation
• Strategies to navigate valleys and rewrite stories during transitions
• Practical approaches to cultivating courage, confidence, and clarity
• The role of mindfulness and experiential tools like horse coaching and climbing
• Differences between hustle culture and sustainable high performance
• The significance of life stages and changing goals over time
• The "Basecamp Bootcamp" coaching program and transformation tools
• The power of small actions and lifestyle prototyping for lasting change

00:00 - Introduction to Meggi Rombach and her journey from burnout to coaching
02:20 - Meggi’s background working with high-level leaders at the Red Cross
05:09 - Recognizing the humanity behind high performers and leaders
06:17 - The evolution of Meggi’s podcast from Leadership Insights to Played By Your Rules
07:29 - The first burnout experience and its lessons
09:47 - Overcoming people-pleasing tendencies among high performers
11:21 - The role of social agility and adaptability in leadership
13:57 - Building resilience and recognizing the need to prioritize oneself
15:08 - The link between chronic stress and burnout
16:04 - Comparing work stress to sports training and recovery
18:50 - Life stages, changing dreams, and redefining success
20:16 - The Everest Base Camp analogy for work-life balance
21:20 - Personal story of loss and shifting priorities
25:24 - Using William Bridges’ model of transition and the neutral zone
28:26 - Courage versus recklessness in high-stakes environments
29:52 - The significance of small, courageous actions and mindset shifts
30:48 - The concept of flow, mindfulness, and intentional performance
33:41 - Experiential coaching tools: horses, climbing, and nature integration
37:08 - Practical steps for lifestyle experimentation and action
38:09 - Preventing recklessness through scenario planning and calculated risks
40:01 - The true meaning of freedom in a mindful life
41:32 - How to connect with Meggi and explore her coaching programs
43:37 - Final advice: Take mindfulness seriously for high performance and well-being

• Play It By Your Rules Podcast
• MeggiRombach.com
• FREE Assessment

• LinkedIn

In this episode, Rob Tracz explores the nuanced decision-making process behind knowing when to hold on or let go of what's working. Featuring insights from Andre Carvalho, a real estate investor and acquisitions expert, this conversation dives into how entrepreneurs can differentiate between reckless moves and courageous, strategic pivots.

• Why successful entrepreneurs are willing to dismantle what's working for the sake of growth
• The vital difference between courage and recklessness in business decisions
• How to prepare and plan for big moves without paralysis
• Why a thriving partnership can become a barrier to personal development
• The importance of treating business as a game rather than a relentless grind
• The role of sales as a skill that compounds your overall leverage and growth
• How to recognize the signs that "what's working" is actually holding you back

00:00 - Introduction: When to walk away from what works
00:30 - The entrepreneurs who reach higher levels are willing to dismantle what's working
01:00 - Andre Carvalho’s bold pivot from a successful real estate partnership
01:27 - The disciplined planning behind Andre’s big leap
01:56 - Making strategic bets vs. reckless moves
02:26 - The middle ground: pacing your transition thoughtfully
03:21 - Courage is a plan, recklessness is a feeling
03:51 - Examples of stress testing your business decisions
04:20 - The significance of preparation and deliberate flag-setting
05:19 - Overthinking can be a trap; balance planning with action
05:48 - The importance of knowing your direction before making big moves
06:18 - How what’s working can unintentionally hold you back
06:48 - The danger of comfort zones in partnerships and jobs
07:16 - Andre’s reason for leaving a profitable partnership
07:45 - Recognizing when stability is actually stagnation
08:14 - The destructive illusion of safety in systems that no longer serve growth
09:02 - The concept of sustainable growth and avoiding maintenance mode
09:31 - Rethinking sales: it’s just conversation and understanding
10:00 - The misconception of sales as pushy or manipulative
10:30 - Building relationships through real communication
11:00 - Andre’s strategy to master sales internally for leverage
11:30 - The importance of developing sales skills across all areas of life
12:24 - Moving from burnout to mastery by choosing the harder path
12:32 - How sales mastery is portable and highly valuable
13:00 - Treating business as a game rather than a war
13:29 - Shifting mindset: fun, curiosity, and playfulness boost performance
13:57 - The impact of mindset on decision-making and risk-taking
14:27 - Creating space for opportunities by releasing stress and fear
14:55 - Business is about playing; big risks become opportunities when approached with a game mindset
15:26 - The role of curiosity and relaxed energy in luck and success
15:55 - Your current self isn’t the same as the next level — what needs to change?
16:46 - Dismantling what's working to elevate your growth
17:15 - Follow Andre Carvalho’s journey and upcoming book, Deal Flow
17:44 - The advice:

— start before you're ready
18:13 - Protecting yourself from imaginary failure guarantees real stagnation
18:41 - Take action with a plan, but don’t wait for fear to disappear
19:09 - Closing: Stay sharp, aligned, and keep Surviving the Side Hustle

This episode features Andre Carvalho sharing his journey of stepping out of comfort zones, rebuilding after a successful partnership, and mastering sales and mindset in the real estate industry. It's a candid look at personal growth, strategic pivots, and living intentionally.

KEY TOPICS

• The importance of obeying internal guidance and stepping out of comfort zones
• Andre's start in business and the significance of long-term vision planning
• Risks involved in making bold career transitions, including cashing out savings and leaving stable jobs
• The difference between courageous action and reckless behavior
• The power of journaling ideas and maintaining a flexible yet organized system
• Reasons for leaving a successful partnership to pursue personal growth and spiritual calling
• Building a new business solo versus with partners: challenges and opportunities
• Developing sales skills firsthand by engaging in the field to master storytelling and influence
• The misconception that sales is 'slimy'—it's primarily effective communication
• The significance of partnerships and choosing the right collaborators based on values and skill sets
• Setting ambitious financial goals: a million active income and a billion under management, and the importance of thinking big
• The mindset shift from viewing money as the goal to seeing it as a game or score

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Obedience and stepping out of comfort zones to unlock growth

02:47 - Introducing Andre Carvalho, real estate investor and acquisitions specialist

03:16 - Andre's vision to scale a seven-figure active income business

04:00 - The reset: leaving partnerships to pursue a higher purpose

04:14 - How Andre started in business and the importance of long-term vision

07:14 - The timeline and research involved before quitting the job

08:36 - Balancing courage with responsibility: planning versus recklessness

09:22 - The value of talking to professionals and testing ideas before full commitment

12:27 - Maintaining organization and reviewing journal entries regularly

13:29 - Techniques for capturing and developing ideas

15:15 - Simplifying journaling by focusing on ideas and goals

16:50 - The spiritual calling to elevate leadership through independence

17:19 - Reflecting on Tyler and Andre’s partnership growth

20:06 - Lessons from delaying decisions and the cost of inaction

21:00 - Growing alone versus with a partner: skills and leadership

22:28 - Why Andre emphasizes mastering sales on the frontlines

24:17 - Common misconceptions about sales and communication

25:16 - The simplicity of sales when aligned with belief in your product

27:43 - Why Andre aims for a billion in assets and a million active income

29:20 - Letting go of guilt and embracing adaptable goalsetting

30:43 - The value of transparency and honesty in commitments

33:14 - Strategic use of real estate for tax advantages and appreciation

35:29 - Viewing business and real estate as a game with scoring

36:20 - Keys for those in transition: commitment, exercise, and mindset

39:20 - Final advice: Just do it and take action without overthinking

Connect with Andre Carvalho

• LinkedIn | Website

n this episode, Rob Tracz explores the crucial questions entrepreneurs must ask themselves to align their pursuits with genuine fulfillment. Featuring insights from criminal defense attorney Adam Willman, the discussion covers how success can evolve, the importance of listening to your body's signals, and strategies for sustainable growth.

• The danger of chasing external definitions of success without reevaluation
• How growth phases require redefining what success means for you
• Recognizing panic attacks and stress signals as valuable data, not weakness
• The importance of isolating what truly works in your business
• The myth of work-life balance versus the power of presence
• Updating your “Pirate’s Flag”: recalibrating direction seasonally
• Building a business around core strengths and profitable client relationships
• The significance of saying no to protect your capacity and focus
• Practical ways to stay present and cultivate mindfulness amid hustle
• Reflecting on what you want your legacy to be

00:00 - Rethink success: Is what you're chasing truly what you want now?

00:31 - The entrepreneur's success myth and evolving priorities

01:01 - Adam Wilman's entrepreneurial backdrop and burnout experience

01:57 - Growing pains: Success that no longer fulfills

02:26 - Success frameworks: From zero to stable vs. from stable to fulfilled

03:14 - The importance of updating your definition of success

03:44 - How early success can expire and why recalibration is necessary

04:14 - From activity to fulfillment: Building purpose-driven success

04:39 - The danger of never updating your pursuit

05:10 - The “Pirate’s Flag” framework for directional recalibration

05:39 - Recognizing burnout signals as data

06:07 - Overcoming panic attacks through self-awareness and reflection

06:37 - Listening to your body's signals for sustainability

07:06 - Turning stress signals into actionable insights

07:36 - The value of "Isolate What Works" mentality

08:00 - Practical steps to streamline and focus your practice

08:57 - Protect your capacity: saying no to energy drainers

09:27 - Building a business around strengths and profitable clients

10:28 - Tolerance as a trap: the real cost of draining clients

10:55 - Capacity over revenue: why protecting your energy is paramount

11:25 - The true pace for sustainable growth

11:54 - The myth of work-life balance and embracing presence

12:22 - Cultivating presence: being fully present with loved ones

12:52 - The role of mindfulness and reflection in entrepreneurial life

13:22 - Your legacy: what truly matters in the long run

13:51 - Moving fast with purpose: speed without direction is aimless

14:07 - Reassessing your definition of success each season

14:36 - The importance of updating and recalibrating your goals

15:04 - Adam Wilman's path as a story of genuine connection and purpose

15:33 - Final reflections and advice: prioritize love and legacy

16:03 - Asking yourself: What do I want them to remember about this season?

16:32 - Wrapping up: stay aligned, stay present, survive the side hustle

• Adam J. Willman Law Office

Prioritize ongoing recalibration over relentless hustle; true success is about sustainable fulfillment and presence.